Terror targets Indian consulate in Jalalabad: All Indians safe

In the third attack on an Indian consulate in Afghanistan in the past few days, a group of armed terrorists which included suicide bombers struck the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad that killed nine persons including an Afghan security personnel. The Indian consulate was damaged in the attack. The attack took place on March 2. Reacting to the attack, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said: “Indian Consulate in Jalalabad has been attacked. All Indians in the mission are safe but one ANP officer was killed during the gunfire. One suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the mission while another blew himself up along with the car which carried the attackers. Four terrorists were killed by the Afghan securitymen.” It was reported that there were as many as 1,320 explosions including bomb and grenade blasts during a two-hour gun battle. Confirming that the consulate was damaged in the attacks, Mr Swarup said that the ministry has received an initial report of the attack and subsequent developments by the Afghan Army.